Infield: First baseman Sam Leslie (1929-38) spent 10 seasons in New York, with three years in Brooklyn sandwiched between two stints with the New York Giants. He was a .300 hitter who drew a few walks and once drove in 100 runs. Third baseman Scott Livingstone (1991-98) was a .280 hitter who didn’t get on base enough to offset his lack of power and speed. He was functional as a role player, but he couldn’t hold onto a starting job. Shortstop Scott Leius (1990-99) was a starter on the 1991 Minnesota Twins championship team, and he batted .357 in the World Series that year. That was the highlight of a largely forgettable 10-year career. Second baseman Steve Lombardozzi (1985-90) played for the Twins a few years before Scott Leius. In fact, he played on the Twins’ 1987 championship team and batted .412 in the World Series. So Leius and Lombardozzi have a lot in common - ordinary middle infielders, improbable championships with the Twins, high postseason batting averages, several teammates - and they should get along just fine.
Outfield: Right fielder Sixto Lezcano (1974-85) was a very effective player, a .270 hitter who drew some walks, hit 20-25 home runs a year and had a powerful throwing arm. He came up with Milwaukee and was later a key player in two big trades involving the Cardinals. Following the 1980 season, the Brewers traded him to St. Louis as part of a seven-player deal involving Ted Simmons and Rollie Fingers. A year later, almost to the day, he was part of the package the Cardinals sent to San Diego in the six-player deal that swapped shortstops Garry Templeton and Ozzie Smith. For his career, Lezcano hit 148 home runs. Center fielder Steve “Psycho” Lyons (1985-93) came up as an outfielder but later moved into a utility role. During a game in 1990, he slid headfirst into a base and then stood up and pulled down his pants in order to wipe the dirt from his sliding shorts. The crowd laughed, he acted all embarrassed and pulled his pants back up, and everyone decided the video clip was so hilarious that it became a “blooper” phenomenon long before the days of YouTube. This reinforced to fans that he was a colorful eccentric (he even used the word “zany” to describe himself), which led to a book deal and, later, a second career in the broadcast booth. As an announcer, he has primarily distinguished himself by making jokes on the air that have been deemed offensive to the Japanese (suggesting that they call carry multiple cameras around), the Italian (suggesting that they are all connected to the Mafia) and to Latinos (suggesting that they all steal wallets). He also made jokes about a Jewish player and criticized him for sitting out a game on Yom Kippur. In all likelihood, if he hadn't pulled his pants down at first base, we would have been spared his career as a broadcaster and author. Left fielder Sam Langford (1926-28) had 2,000 hits and a .325 batting average in the minors but never did much in the majors.
Catcher: Sherm Lollar (1946-63) played in nine all-star games, won three Gold Gloves and hit 155 home runs in his career. He came up at age 21 but was stuck behind Jim Hegan in Cleveland and Yogi Berra in New York, and he then spend three years playing regularly for some awful St. Louis Browns teams. His big break came before the 1952 season, when he was traded to the White Sox, and he spent the next decade there are a steady, consistent player at the plate and in the field.
Rotation: Sam Leever (1898-1910) was 194 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He didn’t drink or smoke or carouse, which was so remarkable for a ballplayer at that time that he was known as “Deacon,” and he was a teacher in his hometown of Goshen, Ohio, before his playing career, so they also called him “The Goshen Schoolmaster.” Pitching for some very fine teams in the Honus Wagner era, Leever led the NL three times in winning percentage and once in ERA. Skip Lockwood (1965-80) had an odd career. Signed as a high school third baseman by the Kansas City A’s, he was given a large enough signing bonus that under the rules of that period, he had to spend his first season on the team’s major-league roster. As an 18-year-old, he played sparingly and hit even more sparingly (.121 average) and went to the minors the following season. When it became apparent that he couldn’t hit, he was converted to the mound, and he made it back to the majors at age 22 as a starter with the expansion Seattle Pilots. He moved with the team to Milwaukee the following year and spend a few years as a mediocre starter on a bad team. He eventually moved to the Mets and became a full-time reliever, serving as the team’s closer for three years. But the S.L. team already has a fine closer, and the rotation is thin, so Lockwood is entrenched in the rotation. Lefty Slim Love (1913-20) got his nickname because (a.) he was 6-foot-7 and under 200 pounds, and (b.) because it must have been fun to walk around saying “Slim Love” in a suggestive tone of voice. He won 172 games in the minors and had a couple of decent years in the bigs, including 13 wins for the Yankees in 1918. Steve Luebber (1971-81) spent very little actual time in the majors, scattering two dozens starts and 42 relief appearances over 11 years. He won 145 games in the minors, which is much more rare in the era of organized farm systems than it was back in the days of Slim Love. Scott “Lefty” Lewis (2008- ) looks like he could be really good if he could ever stay healthy. He has had success in the minors, and he pitched very well in a September callup for the Indians in 2008, including eight shutout innings in his debut. Actually staying healthy enough to pitch, however, has posed a problem.
Bullpen: Lefty Sparky Lyle (1967-82) was one of the top closers in baseball in the 1970s, as that role was evolving into what became its modern incarnation. With the Yankees from 1972-77, he worked 634 innings in 361 games, posting a 2.23 ERA with 48 wins and 132 saves. In 1977, Lyle and Rollie Fingers both surpassed Hoyt Wilhelm’s career record for saves, and for a few weeks, the record changed hands between the two bushy mustaches several times before Fingers pulled ahead of Lyle for good. Lyle won the AL Cy Young Award in 1977 and helped the Yankees win their first World Series title in 16 years. Owner George Steinbrenner was so impressed that he went out during the offseason and signed Goose Gossage as a free agent to supplant Lyle as New York’s closer. Lyle fumed, then struggled through the 1978 season and got traded to Texas, prompting Graig Nettles’ famous observation that Lyle “went from Cy Young to Sayonara in one year.” Lyle wrote a candid, funny book about the season called “The Bronx Zoo.” He bounced around for a few more years, but he never truly regained his top form. Scott Linebrink (2000- ) has been a durable and effective set-up man for a decade. Sean Lowe (1997-2003) was a first-round pick out of Arizona State who managed a couple of good seasons with the White Sox in an otherwise mediocre career. Scott “Righty” Lewis (1990-94) was a swingman with the Angels who never really figured how to get major-league hitters out. Shane Loux (2002- ) walks as many as he strikes out and he gives up a ton of hits. Sam LeCure (2010- ) has just started his major-league career at age 26, so he could become a vital member of this bullpen or just another spare part. Steve Lawson (1972) was a lefty drafted by the A’s out of high school and spent a couple of years in the minors until he was traded to Texas in the middle of the 1972 season. He made his debut with the Rangers at age 21, pitched well for two months (2.81 ERA in 13 games) – and then never pitched in the majors again. He was back in the minors in 1973 and ’74, mostly getting rocked, and then he was done for good in his mid-20s. One presumes arm trouble.
Bench: Stan Lopata (1948-60) was a big, slow galoot who was actually a pretty good catcher. He hit 116 home runs in his career and he had a good batting eye, hitting from an exaggerated crouch. He made two all-star teams but spent most of his career battling for playing time – so he will be right at home backing up Sherm Lollar. That leaves even less playing time for Steve Lake (1983-93), who had a long career as a backup catcher. Outfielder Scott Lusader (1987-91) batted .317 in a late-season callup at age 22, but that was a tease, and he was never that good again. Sam LaRocque (1888-91), full name Simeon Henri Jean LaRocque, was a French-Canadian infielder in the 19th century. Outfielder Scott Loucks (1980-85) never hit much.
Manager: Sparky Lyle will serve as player-manager. Bet you didn’t know that he has won 500 games (and counting) as a manager in an indepdent league in New York.
Outfield: Right fielder Sixto Lezcano (1974-85) was a very effective player, a .270 hitter who drew some walks, hit 20-25 home runs a year and had a powerful throwing arm. He came up with Milwaukee and was later a key player in two big trades involving the Cardinals. Following the 1980 season, the Brewers traded him to St. Louis as part of a seven-player deal involving Ted Simmons and Rollie Fingers. A year later, almost to the day, he was part of the package the Cardinals sent to San Diego in the six-player deal that swapped shortstops Garry Templeton and Ozzie Smith. For his career, Lezcano hit 148 home runs. Center fielder Steve “Psycho” Lyons (1985-93) came up as an outfielder but later moved into a utility role. During a game in 1990, he slid headfirst into a base and then stood up and pulled down his pants in order to wipe the dirt from his sliding shorts. The crowd laughed, he acted all embarrassed and pulled his pants back up, and everyone decided the video clip was so hilarious that it became a “blooper” phenomenon long before the days of YouTube. This reinforced to fans that he was a colorful eccentric (he even used the word “zany” to describe himself), which led to a book deal and, later, a second career in the broadcast booth. As an announcer, he has primarily distinguished himself by making jokes on the air that have been deemed offensive to the Japanese (suggesting that they call carry multiple cameras around), the Italian (suggesting that they are all connected to the Mafia) and to Latinos (suggesting that they all steal wallets). He also made jokes about a Jewish player and criticized him for sitting out a game on Yom Kippur. In all likelihood, if he hadn't pulled his pants down at first base, we would have been spared his career as a broadcaster and author. Left fielder Sam Langford (1926-28) had 2,000 hits and a .325 batting average in the minors but never did much in the majors.
Catcher: Sherm Lollar (1946-63) played in nine all-star games, won three Gold Gloves and hit 155 home runs in his career. He came up at age 21 but was stuck behind Jim Hegan in Cleveland and Yogi Berra in New York, and he then spend three years playing regularly for some awful St. Louis Browns teams. His big break came before the 1952 season, when he was traded to the White Sox, and he spent the next decade there are a steady, consistent player at the plate and in the field.
Rotation: Sam Leever (1898-1910) was 194 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He didn’t drink or smoke or carouse, which was so remarkable for a ballplayer at that time that he was known as “Deacon,” and he was a teacher in his hometown of Goshen, Ohio, before his playing career, so they also called him “The Goshen Schoolmaster.” Pitching for some very fine teams in the Honus Wagner era, Leever led the NL three times in winning percentage and once in ERA. Skip Lockwood (1965-80) had an odd career. Signed as a high school third baseman by the Kansas City A’s, he was given a large enough signing bonus that under the rules of that period, he had to spend his first season on the team’s major-league roster. As an 18-year-old, he played sparingly and hit even more sparingly (.121 average) and went to the minors the following season. When it became apparent that he couldn’t hit, he was converted to the mound, and he made it back to the majors at age 22 as a starter with the expansion Seattle Pilots. He moved with the team to Milwaukee the following year and spend a few years as a mediocre starter on a bad team. He eventually moved to the Mets and became a full-time reliever, serving as the team’s closer for three years. But the S.L. team already has a fine closer, and the rotation is thin, so Lockwood is entrenched in the rotation. Lefty Slim Love (1913-20) got his nickname because (a.) he was 6-foot-7 and under 200 pounds, and (b.) because it must have been fun to walk around saying “Slim Love” in a suggestive tone of voice. He won 172 games in the minors and had a couple of decent years in the bigs, including 13 wins for the Yankees in 1918. Steve Luebber (1971-81) spent very little actual time in the majors, scattering two dozens starts and 42 relief appearances over 11 years. He won 145 games in the minors, which is much more rare in the era of organized farm systems than it was back in the days of Slim Love. Scott “Lefty” Lewis (2008- ) looks like he could be really good if he could ever stay healthy. He has had success in the minors, and he pitched very well in a September callup for the Indians in 2008, including eight shutout innings in his debut. Actually staying healthy enough to pitch, however, has posed a problem.
Bullpen: Lefty Sparky Lyle (1967-82) was one of the top closers in baseball in the 1970s, as that role was evolving into what became its modern incarnation. With the Yankees from 1972-77, he worked 634 innings in 361 games, posting a 2.23 ERA with 48 wins and 132 saves. In 1977, Lyle and Rollie Fingers both surpassed Hoyt Wilhelm’s career record for saves, and for a few weeks, the record changed hands between the two bushy mustaches several times before Fingers pulled ahead of Lyle for good. Lyle won the AL Cy Young Award in 1977 and helped the Yankees win their first World Series title in 16 years. Owner George Steinbrenner was so impressed that he went out during the offseason and signed Goose Gossage as a free agent to supplant Lyle as New York’s closer. Lyle fumed, then struggled through the 1978 season and got traded to Texas, prompting Graig Nettles’ famous observation that Lyle “went from Cy Young to Sayonara in one year.” Lyle wrote a candid, funny book about the season called “The Bronx Zoo.” He bounced around for a few more years, but he never truly regained his top form. Scott Linebrink (2000- ) has been a durable and effective set-up man for a decade. Sean Lowe (1997-2003) was a first-round pick out of Arizona State who managed a couple of good seasons with the White Sox in an otherwise mediocre career. Scott “Righty” Lewis (1990-94) was a swingman with the Angels who never really figured how to get major-league hitters out. Shane Loux (2002- ) walks as many as he strikes out and he gives up a ton of hits. Sam LeCure (2010- ) has just started his major-league career at age 26, so he could become a vital member of this bullpen or just another spare part. Steve Lawson (1972) was a lefty drafted by the A’s out of high school and spent a couple of years in the minors until he was traded to Texas in the middle of the 1972 season. He made his debut with the Rangers at age 21, pitched well for two months (2.81 ERA in 13 games) – and then never pitched in the majors again. He was back in the minors in 1973 and ’74, mostly getting rocked, and then he was done for good in his mid-20s. One presumes arm trouble.
Bench: Stan Lopata (1948-60) was a big, slow galoot who was actually a pretty good catcher. He hit 116 home runs in his career and he had a good batting eye, hitting from an exaggerated crouch. He made two all-star teams but spent most of his career battling for playing time – so he will be right at home backing up Sherm Lollar. That leaves even less playing time for Steve Lake (1983-93), who had a long career as a backup catcher. Outfielder Scott Lusader (1987-91) batted .317 in a late-season callup at age 22, but that was a tease, and he was never that good again. Sam LaRocque (1888-91), full name Simeon Henri Jean LaRocque, was a French-Canadian infielder in the 19th century. Outfielder Scott Loucks (1980-85) never hit much.
Manager: Sparky Lyle will serve as player-manager. Bet you didn’t know that he has won 500 games (and counting) as a manager in an indepdent league in New York.
No comments:
Post a Comment